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ordinary advance which is making in the sphere of the sciences-an advance which, by necessitating a corresponding elevation of religious faith, seems likely ere long to exhaust the Old Church of all cordial and rational allegiance to its spiritual authorities. The varied walks of physical science are daily unfolding such marvels of order and goodness in the natural creation, as to beget an irresistible conviction of the prevalence of a like order and goodness in the spiritual creation, while the irrepressible yearnings of the philosophic mind incessantly sigh for access to that sphere of causes which has hitherto been precluded it. The Old Church does next to nothing to enlighten or guide this nascent sentiment: she even denies the spiritual creation to be a proper object of thought or knowledge, and consequently frowns upon every attempt to communicate its sublime lore to her children. Has the Divine Providence, then, left this urgent want uncared for? Is it for faith simply to believe in and to guess at a spiritual world without the rational intelligence of its verities, or any clear perception of the law which connects the natural with the spiritual, and thus sanctifies science by wedding it with religion? Every enlightened New Churchman will unhesitatingly answer, No, because he is firmly persuaded that the interior sense of Scripture, as unfolded by its science of correspondences, proclaims an order in the spiritual creation unspeakably more grand and impressive than any sensible order can be, and that nothing more is requisite to the perception of the harmony which reigns between the spheres of nature and spirit, than a mind studious of truth from the love of its underlying good. Disclaiming, however, for ourselves any peculiar ability to connect the higher faets of science with the spiritual truths of which they are representative, we profess simply to stand in the forecourt of the magnificent temple of knowledge which is now opening to the human intellect, and though not unvisited by occasional gleams of the central effulgence, yet we by no means boast of any complete illumination. It is as disciples rather than as teachers that we present ourselves disciples of truth in every sphere, because we believe it to be in all alike one and divine. But it shall be our endeavour, with all our strength, whether great or little, to annul the divorce which has taken place between science and

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religion, by displaying the rational correspondence which unites the truth of both. In order to do this worthily, we should doubtless need an ampler space than we can now promise ourselves, but always to do it as well as our means allow, will be a leading object of our Journal.

"The grand purpose of our projected enterprise is to furnish a repository of all the most valuable exposition, discussion, and information which can be concentrated in its pages. Without surrendering the right of judgment as to the suitableness of the matter presented to the general aim and objects of the work, we would still fain impress upon it a character of freedom and liberality. The interchange of opposite opinions, when conducted in the spirit of charity, can scarcely be termed controversy, at least in the offensive sense of the term, and so long as variant views of doctrine are entertained by minds equally intent upon the attainment of truth, we know no sound reason for refusing a hearing to both sides of debateable topics, provided ever that the disputants shun a resort to harsh personalities and indecorous crimination of motive. The Editor will in no case deem himself responsible for the sentiments advanced by correspondents, although it is to be expected that the tenor of all communications will be in accordance with the general plan and scope of the work. If the positions of any writer are assailed, he is to be supposed competent to defend them, and upon him will it rest.

"A prominent department of the Journal will be given to REVIEWS, more or less extensive, of such issues of the press as shall be especially entitled to the attention of New Churchmen. In the conduct of this department, we shall aim to divest ourselves of all that prejudice or favouritism which would prevent the exercise of an impartial censorship of the various works that may come under our notice.

"We deem it also expedient that some portion of our pages should be devoted to the exegesis or critical explanation of the Sacred Text, especially with a view to discover how far a light may be cast upon the spiritual sense by a careful study of the literal. In the accomplishment of this object we shall of necessity have recourse to the inspired originals, and as occasion may offer shall propound amended versions of passages deemed to be erroneously rendered.

"The plan we contemplate will necessarily involve the consideration of the prominent theological dogmas of the Old Church, whether Papal or Protestant, and the attempt to hold up their apprehended errors and fallacies in contrast with the celestial certainties that mark the system of the New Jerusalem, as unfolded in the writings of its appointed herald. But in doing this we shall aim to preserve the spirit of meekness and the laws of candour, and to abstain from all distortion and caricature in the exhibition of religious doctrines, which, however erroneous in our view, are still held with honest conviction, and regarded with devout reverence by their adherents. Opportunity, however, will be freely given to all those who shall, in a Christian spirit, be disposed to question or canvass any of the leading doctrines of the New Church, or to array against them, on the ground of reason or Scripture, the counter tenets of the prevailing theology. In such cases we shall of course reserve to ourselves the right of reply, as our sole object in the proffer is to elicit truth by the attrition of argument.

"In the more miscellaneous province of the Journal, we shall make it an object to chronicle all the important events of the passing times that may have a bearing on the fortunes or interests of the Church-to notice the movement of

ecclesiastical bodies in the connection to record such documents and reports as may subserve the future history of the Church-and to incorporate such information in Science, Literature, and Art, as may tend to confirm and illustrate the principles that distinguish the system

we profess to have received.

"Such is a general outline or programme of the work which we propose to issue. Various other items will doubtless enter the details, which will be suggested by experience whenever the undertaking has got fairly under way. It is impossible to anticipate in the outset all the aspects which the work may assume in its progress. But the ideal of the enterprise, we flatter ourselves, will meet the general views of the friends of the New Church, and if we may venture to count upon the available talent which we know to exist among the members of the church, we shall have little hesitation in promising to our readers and patrons a publication in some degree worthy of the cause it is

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SIR, It is now many years since a general catalogue of the various publications of the New Church was published, and the want of it has not only been greatly felt, but has also been highly detrimental to a more extensive circulation of these works. It is a cause of continual regret that the sale of these publications is so limited, and yet one great means of increasing it has been overlooked, and, in a great measure, by those public bodies in the church which are established for the purpose of printing and publishing. Each of these societies publishes only its own list, but it has never occurred to them that, by uniting together, a catalogue might be printed of the publications of the London and Manchester Printing Societies; of the London and New Church Tract Societies; and of the Swedenborg Association. The works published by bearing his proportion of the expense individuals might also be included, each according to the space he might require issued such a catalogue, in conjunction in the catalogue. Many years ago, I with the two societies then in existence, but it has long since been out of print, and, owing to so many publishers being now appointed in the church, it has not been worth the while of either to incur the expense of printing such a pamphlet.

Relieved from the onerous duties which, upon me connected with the church, I for more than twenty years, have devolved am now more at liberty to attend to matters of business; and I have commenced the preparation of a full catalogue of works relating to the New Church. If the committees of the several Printing and Publishing Societies-the Conference, and the individual proprietors of any of the publications, are willing to bear their fair proportion of the expense, I shall be glad to avail myself of such aid, and to receive from them lists of such books as they may wish to have inserted; if not, I shall proceed to the completion of the catalogue in my own way.

I have preferred mentioning this subject through the medium of your pages, to applying direct to the several committees, because I know that these bodies ocea

sionally require the application of the Revelation were admitted on both sides. spur by the subscribers themselves.

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We extract the following account of the present religious state of Germany from the "New York Observer." Presuming that our readers will know how to interpret these "signs of the times," we present the extract without further remark. "It would be difficult to represent to American readers, in sufficiently strong terms, the agitation which prevails now in Germany, and the warm disputes excited by religious questions. No country in the world, I believe, presents such a spectacle. I speak of Protestant Germany. Roman Catholics are generally more tranquil beyond the Rhine, except those who have taken the name of German Catholics, and who form only a small minority. But in the churches founded by Luther, trouble and discord reign. There, all the passions are stirred up; no one can at present tell the extent or the duration of the movement.

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"Observe, that not only professed theologians and pastors take part in these struggles, but all orders of people, from crowned heads to obscure peasants. The king of Prussia concerns himself at least as much with the ecclesiastical affairs as with the politics of his kingdom. The city councils discuss at length articles of doctrine, of discipline, and worship. In the cities, men, women, and children come. forward to testify their adherence to the mode of thinking or of acting of such and such a pastor. The periodical papersthat faithful thermometer of public opinion are filled with discussions upon church affairs. In a word, the subject now occupies the nation from the borders of the Rhine to the shores of the Baltic. "Remark, also, that the dispute is not confined to some special topics of theology. Formerly, Luther and Calvin disputed upon the doctrine of the Holy Supper; Gomar and Arminius upon that of Predestination; others upon the character of Original Sin, and so forth. The fundamental principles of the Christian

But now, in Germany, it is quite different. All, absolutely all, is put in question. The inspiration, the authority of the Bible is disputed; the divinity of Jesus Christ is denied; further, the immortality of the soul, the very existence of God, is doubted. The question is, whether there is any religion for man, or whether there is not; whether we are the sport of blind chance, or whether there is an Almighty Providence; whether, in a word, Atheism or Christianity shall prevail in the world."

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NEW TRACTS.-The Manchester Tract Society has recently published two new tracts, numbered 61 and 62. No. 61 is entitled, "Why did Jesus Christ pray to the Father?" It is the principal object of this tract to shew that the important question propounded cannot be satisfactorily answered on either Tripersonal or Unitarian principles; and since it can be answered satisfactorily only on the principles of the New Church, it is proved to a demonstration, that the New Church is the only true Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the language of a learned friend, we may state, that "the tract is an excellent one, on a subject most interesting, not more to Christians of the Old Church than to those who receive the doctrines of the New. The propositions are clearly stated, closely argued, and conclusively proved.”—No. 62 is entitled, 'Apparent Truths contained in the Holy Word not to be confounded with genuine truths." This tract shews clearly, that the prevalent errors, which violate the true idea of the Divine character as being Love and Mercy itself, on the one hand, and violate the true idea of the Divine Unity and Unipersonality, on the other, are owing to apparent truths being preferred to the genuine truths of the Holy Word, and confirmed as if they were absolutely true, instead of being only so in appearance. There is every reason to think that this will be found a very useful tract, well calculated to strike powerfully the well-disposed mind with the superiority of the New Church doctrines, as founded on the genuine truths of the Word, contrasted with the doctrines of the different sections of the Old Church, which are founded chiefly, or almost exclusively, on mere appearances of truth; for so far as it is attempted to base a doctrinal system upon these opposite

classes of truths at the same time, (and this frequently is attempted,) no other doctrinal result can follow, than the production of mere contradictions of doctrine;

and of these the common doctrines, which claim to be the Gospel, pure and undefiled, are found, by the intelligent investigator, entirely to consist.

Obituary.

Died, on the 19th of February, 1848, Claudius Alphonso Weston Le Cras, the third and last surviving son of Abraham Jones Le Cras, Esq., of Alderbury Lodge, Les Vaux, St. Helier, proprietor of "The Jersey and Guernsey News." The disease of which he died was pulmonary consumption, with which he had been for several years afflicted. He was a worthy and exemplary young man, frank and honourable, yet unobtrusive in his manners, scrupulous in his words and actions, and strongly grounded in the good of life. He made no open profession of the New Church doctrines, and could not perhaps be regarded as a full receiver of them; but he was a believer in all the fundamentals of our holy faith, and had considerable perception of the realities of the world of spirits. Not finding amongst his father's books any New Church works containing pious reflections, meditations, and prayers, he expressed his regret at the want of some such food for his mind during his last illness. Mr. Goyder's Spiritual Reflections" were ordered to meet this want, but did not arrive until the day after his decease. Mr. C. A. W. Le Cras was greatly respected by all who knew him, and his funeral was attended by Colonel Le Coutiers, Lieutenant-Colonel Marett, Major Sullivan, and other officers of the Royal Jersey Militia, to which he belonged.

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Died, of consumption, on the 1st of March, 1848, at Stroud, Gloucestershire, in the 21st year of her age, Miss Elizabeth Wynn. She was among the early recipients of the heavenly doctrines at Chalford, and was baptized by the Rev. T. Goyder, on July 7th, 1844, with her mother and twelve other persons. She was a sincere and affectionate receiver of the truth, "and well do I remember," says Mr. Goyder, "the tears of joy she shed on the morning of her baptism." In my visits to her, I found her always in that calm and cheerful state of mind which we look for in those who have a firm confidence in the faith and promises of the Lord Jesus. She has now passed. from the world of nature to that spiritual and eternal country, where her affliction is exchanged for the rosy health that is everlasting, and where the angels of mercy, as ministering spirits for good, will usher her into her heavenly Father's kingdom, to partake of the everlasting joys of the redeemed. T. G.

On the 17th February last, at his residence, Birch View, Longsight, near Manchester, Mr. Thomas Walmsley, in the 54th year of his age.

Died, in London, on the 25th of March, 1848, aged 75 years, John Parry, late of Haverhill, Suffolk. J. B.

ERRATUM. In the announcement of Mr. John Todd's marriage, page 119, for Chalders read Shalders.

Cave and Sever, Printers, 18, St. Ann's-street, Manchester.

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"THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH."-Rev. xxi. 1.

(The extraordinary changes now taking place in the Civil and Religious State of Mankind.)

It is often and solemnly predicted in the Word that "new heavens and a new earth" should be created. Biblical interpreters are nearly all agreed that this sublime mode of expression is not to be taken in its literal sense, but that it is symbolic of a radical and entire change in the church, both as to its internal, or as to its relation to the church triumphant in heaven, and to its external, or in its relation to the church militant-its probation, its experience, and its history upon earth. The Lord, we know, describes the kingdom of God, or heaven, as being within us. (Luke xvii. 21.) Heaven is consequently in the internals of man, yea, in his inmost principles, in order that from thence it may govern and bless all his exteriors, even to the appetites and pleasures of his bodily life. That which is in the centre, or inmost, will invariably govern all things within its sphere. Either God or Mammon occupies this inmost centre in every heart. We cannot serve two masters, one must govern us; either principles from heaven or persuasions from hell must form the springs of our life. "Know ye not," says the apostle, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Rom. vi. 16.)

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This internal, when filled with righteousness and holiness, forms heaven man, and associates him with angels-"the spirits of just men made perfect;" it causes him to have "his conversation," or more properly N. S. No. 102.-VOL. IX.

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